Diversity of opinion and international exchange as the basis of our teaching and research activities
“We support the Open-minded Thuringia initiative. Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences is itself open-minded and diverse. We have students from over 80 countries who study, research, work, and live here together. We want to remain open-minded and help ensure that Thuringia also remains open-minded and becomes even more so. In our Schmalkalden-Meiningen region, we have launched the ESF project Weltoffene Region Thüringens – WORT (Cosmopolitan Region of Thuringia). It aims to help our region become even more interculturally open: the university, society, and, last but not least, the labor market. A cosmopolitan Thuringia helps to secure our prosperity and shape our common future. It is therefore quite clear to us that we are happy to support the initiative.”
Prof. Dr. Gundolf Baier
President of Schmalkalden University
Bündnis Weltoffenes Thüringen
On January 25, 2025, the initiative was presented to the general public. At that point, the alliance already had over 5,600 supporters, including institutions, private individuals, organizations, companies, and associations.
Cosmopolitan universities against xenophobia
The University of Schmalkalden is a member of the German Rectors' Conference and thus expressly commits itself to the adopted mission statement. This also includes a commitment to the nationwide campaign against xenophobia.
"The universities affiliated with the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) are taking part in a nationwide campaign against xenophobia and nationalism and are actively promoting open-mindedness and cosmopolitanism. The HRK members are expressing their stance with the slogan “Cosmopolitan universities – against xenophobia.” They are thus responding to racially motivated verbal and physical violence in Germany and to isolationist tendencies in a number of countries in Europe and the rest of the world."